Device for stretching wires.



M. H. BLAKLBY.

DEVICE FOR STRETGHING WIRES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, 1914.

1,1 17,313, Patented Nov. 17 1914.

THE NORRIS PETERS cov nunmJ 11110., WASHING FUN. n. l:

IVIILDON H. BLAKLEY, OF'ALTON, MISSOURI.

DEVICE FOR STRETCHING WIRES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

Application filed July 15, 1914.. Serial No. 851,177.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILDON H. BLAKLEY,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Alton, in the county of Oregon and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Stretching l/Vires, of which the followingis a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in devices for stretch ing wire fences and while adapted to stretching a single wire, is particularly efiective for stretching woven wire of any regulation width.

Ithas for its object the production of a stretcher simple,strong and durable of construction and which shall be exceedingly cheap, the construction being such as to render unnecessary the time and labor of bracing the posts which is required in using the usual fence stretchers.

With these ends in view my invention consists in the details of construction and arrangement hereinafter described and shown in the drawing.

In order that those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains may know how to make and use my improved stretcher,

I will proceed to describe the same referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improvement shown in proper relation with a post to which a wire fence is to be stretched and stapled. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the stretcher; and Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line aa, of Fig. 2.

Similar reference numerals indicate like parts in the several figures of the drawing. 1 is a beam of any desired length and cross section provided at one end with a spike 2, and metal strap 3, the former for the purpose of entering the post and to hold the beam in fixed relation with the post to which the fence is to be stapled and the latter to prevent the rupture or marring of the end of the beam. At the opposite end of the beam and on opposite sides are pivotally connected legs 4, for holding the rear end of the beam at any desired altitude according to the plane in which a single wire is to be stretched or according to the width of the roll of woven wire when such is to be used. At a suitable distance from the end of the beam, a short shaft 5 passes through the beam and is journaled in suitable boxes or metal plates 6 bolted to the sides of the beam. Upon this shaft on one side of the beam is keyed, or otherwise rigidly secured a sprocket wheel 7, and on the other side similarly secured to the shaft is a ratchet wheel 8, which is held when necessary, against reverse movement side of the beam. 9 are castings or straps secured to the sides of the beam and serve to protect the sprocket and ratchet Wheels, and if said wheels should be connected in fixed axial relation with the shaft 5, by simply squaring said shaft at the ends and passing it through correspondingly shaped passages in the wheels, said straps will also prevent any undue movement of the wheels,

longitudinally of the shaft.

10 is an ordinary sprocket chain, the links of which are adapted to pass on the sprockets of the wheel 7, and one end of this chain is connected by any suitable means to a single wire or woven wire as the case may be.

The shaft 5, as clearly seen at Fig. 2, is extended beyond the sprocket and ratchet wheels and is squared to receive removable cranks 11, and when the stretcher is not in use the pivoted legs may be folded longitudinally of the'beam, and the cranks removed and bound in compact form with the beam, rendering it easy of transportation.

From the construction shown and described, it will be seen that the strain exerted upon the stretcher is transmitted to the post adjacent the ground and no lever strain is exerted upon the post and hence the non-requirement for any post brace, which ordinarily involves time, labor and expense. It will also be seen that the final point of strain is according to the length of the beam beyond the post so that when the wire has been duly stretched and the pawl holds thestood that w ile for the reason stated the by preferably a gravityipawl pivoted to the device is shown anchored at the base of a post, it may be located at any desired altitude.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 2- A Wire fence stretcher consisting of a beam unattached from a fence post, but adapted to anchor at the base thereof near the ground, and equipped at the rear end with legs, pivoted thereto for holding the same at different altitudes; a shaft near the rear end of the beam, carrying on one side of the beam a sprocket Wheel, and on the opposite side a ratchet Wheel and dog, and removable means for rotating the shaft, substantially 15 as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afliX my signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

MILDON H. BLAKLEY. Witnesses:

J. F. BOYD, C. W. BOYD.

Copiesof this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. C. 

